A neighborhood in southwest Houston is attempting to save a huge, old oak tree from a developer’s planned project:
“If we were to just go straight around we’re at 56-and-a-half caliper inches,” said neighbor Mary Hintikka.
The huge diameter alone is one of the reasons why people on Southgate Street love the live oak.
It’s been around as long as any of them can remember.
“We’re concerned about the preservation of our neighborhood and the existing trees,” Hintikka said.
She lives next door.
Several lots in her neighborhood have old homes reduced to rubble as developers make plans for bigger ones.
A builder recently told Hintikka that is the future of the old live oak.
[snip]
There is hardly anything in Houston’s city ordinance protecting trees on private property.
Just a few blocks away from the tree is the city of West University Place, where there is an ordinance on the books that makes it tougher for builders to knock down large, old trees.
They have to get a permit that requires them to replace any removed trees with one or more new ones.
Everyone knows trees enhance a property’s value, and are especially welcome during Houston’s summers. I do wish developers and builders would work harder to save existing trees during new construction, instead of bulldozing them over.
